The Jamaican poet Dennis Scott published "Marrysong" in 1989. A loose, expanded sonnet, the poem's is about a man trying to understand his wife—a woman who, to him at least, seems unknowable and unpredictable. Using an extended metaphor, the husband compares his wife's sudden and intense emotional fluctuations to an ever-shifting landscape that he must navigate. Unable to fully understand her complex personality, the husband ultimately has to accept his wife for who she is—something that actually makes their love stronger. The best way to approach love, the poem implies, is to treat it as an unpredictable journey.
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He never learned ...
... under his eye.
An hour he ...
... in her voice.
He charted. She ...
... faultlessly calm.
All, all was ...
... jaunty helpless journey.
So he accepted ...
... of her mind.
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
More About Dennis Scott — Learn more about Dennis Scott, who was not only a poet, but also a dancer, playwright, and actor.
Dennis Scott's Obituary — Read the poet's 1991 obituary in The New York Times.
Nation Language — Although "Marrysong" is composed in traditional English, Dennis Scott was well known for his use of nation language. Read more here about the use of this vernacular and its impact on Caribbean literature.
The Sonnet Form — "Marrysong" is considered a stretched—or expanded—sonnet. Take a look at this glossary of sonnet forms and how they differ from one another.